Name: Mini Cheesecakes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 345 min
Ingredients: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 8 full-sheets); 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted); 16 ounces cream cheese (softened); ½ cup granulated sugar; ½ cup sour cream (room temperature); 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 large eggs (room temperature, lightly beaten)

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These versatile, mini cheesecakes feel like a luxury dessert at home.

three mini cheesecakes topped with whipped cream and fruit on a marble platter

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Is there anything more enchanting than fresh, melt-in-your-mouth cheesecake? These are the best mini cheesecake bites for your next celebration. They are perfectly petite!

And if you prefer no-bake desserts, I’ve got you covered with a no-bake mini cheesecakes recipe!

The adjustable nature of these homemade mini cheesecakes is unmatched. Impress your friends and family with a variety of decorating methods. You could even create a mini cheesecake topping bar for your loved ones to decorate their own individual servings.

Love cherries? Pile on the cherry pie filling. Maybe you’re craving chocolate? Top with a decadent chocolate ganache.

In addition, caramel sauce and whipped cream perfectly pair with these cheesecakes, as well. Feel free to sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top of the whipped cream before drizzling with caramel sauce. You could also try fruit preserves or even lemon curd.

For those looking for a lighter dessert, sometimes it is more about portion size than cutting out flavor and richness. These are the perfect size for treating yourself without throwing off your well-balanced diet. You can also freeze leftovers and thaw one at a time overnight in your refrigerator. There is no pressure to eat them all in a short time frame.

I know some people are becoming more conscious of gluten consumption. Or you may need to follow a gluten-free diet for medical reasons. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on these delicious cheesecake bites. Try crumbling your favorite gluten-free cookie in place of the standard graham cracker to create the crusts.

Why this recipe works

I adapted these little delights from my best cheesecake recipe. It’s one of my favorite dessert recipes on the blog. I modified the ingredients to make enough crust and batter for 12 minis.
This recipe calls for the cold ingredients to be brought to room temperature before you start the recipe. Set your ingredients out for at least an hour. If you use cold cream cheese, the filling will not have that smooth texture that we all know and love.

mini cheesecake topped with whipped cream and a cherry on a white plate

Mini Cheesecake recipe details

My mini cheesecakes feature a wonderfully, creamy texture. This results from selecting the “right” cream cheese. You always want to select the brick-style cream cheese, not the stuff in the tub, for this recipe.

Equally important, I recommend using a full-fat cream cheese for the best results. Reduced fat products take away from the luxurious feeling of this dessert.

While most may not consider this an important step, you should always sit out your cold ingredients in advance. I would recommend sitting them out at least an hour before using.

You can slice the cream cheese into cubes to help with this process. If the cream cheese is still cold when you start, the texture of the filling will not be smooth and creamy.

Ingredients

Graham crackers: Crumbs compose the crust. You can crumble about 8 full sheets to create 1 cup of crumbs. However, using store-bought graham cracker crumbs will be faster. Crumbling your favorite cookie makes for a fun and delicious substitute!
Sugar: This ingredient adds that pop of sweetness to the dessert.
Butter: The butter acts as an edible glue for the crust. It keeps the graham cracker crumbs as a solid unit. This prevents rogue crumbs from straying into the cheesecake filling, as well.
Cream cheese: Make sure to buy the brick-style cream cheese at the store. You don’t want the stuff that comes in a tub. When selecting your cream cheese brick, look for the full-fat variety. I find it gives the best results.
Sour cream: As with the cream cheese, full-fat sour cream works best for this recipe. However, plain Greek yogurt may be used in equal amounts.
Vanilla: This acts as a flavor enhancer. It makes the other ingredients blossom into a melodious symphony for your taste buds.
Eggs: Eggs function as natural emulsifiers. As a result, the cheesecake filling has a smooth texture. They also help with thickening the filling to the texture you expect from cheesecake.

Equipment

Electric mixer: You will need an electric hand mixer with a large bowl. You could also use a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Either of these tools is essential to blending the ingredients and reaching the desired consistency.
Muffin pan: A muffin pan works best with this recipe. If you have a mini cheesecake pan, you can use that, as well. However, the cavities are smaller in the mini cheesecake pan than in the muffin pan. For the best results with a mini cheesecake pan, I would recommend making 16 instead of 12 minis.

How to make mini cheesecakes

This recipe is so easy and fun to make. The small serving sizes make it perfect for feeding a crowd or cooking for yourself and freezing the rest for later. Creating the mini cheesecakes takes only three simple steps.

The Crust – To start, line your muffin pan with paper liners. Combine the crumbs, sugar and melted butter to form the crust layer. Press the graham cracker crust into the liners in the muffin cups. Bake for 5 minutes at 325°F, then set aside.

The Filling – Grab your electric mixer with a large bowl or stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat the (room temperature!) cream cheese and sugar. Then, add sour cream and vanilla.

Finally, using a silicone spatula, gently stir in the eggs. Make sure to evenly distribute the filling between all 12 cavities in the muffin pan.

The Oven – Turn your oven temperature down to 300°F. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until edges look puffy and set. Cheesecake is done when it looks slightly undone.

Then, remove from oven and let cool in pan for 1 hour. Finally, refrigerate the minis in an airtight container for at least 4 hours. However, overnight refrigeration is preferred for this recipe.

close up of mini cheesecake sliced so the creamy inside is visible

Step 1: Make the crust

Before preheating, adjust your oven rack to the third lower position. This is typically one notch below the center of the oven. Preheat your oven to 325°F. Take a moment to line your 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.

Next, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Then, evenly distribute this combination between all 12 liners. You should be using approximately 1.5 tablespoons in each liner. Take a ¼-cup measuring cup or a small glass to firmly press the mixture into an even layer.

Then, bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool while you create the filling.

process shots showing graham crackers and sugar combined with butter then pressed into muffin pan lined with paper liners

Step 2: Make the filling

Start by reducing your oven temperature from 325°F to 300°F. Grab your stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer.

Beat the cream cheese and sugar together. This should take approximately 3 minutes to reach a completely smooth and creamy texture.

After that, add the sour cream and vanilla by beating on low speed until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time. Grab a silicone spatula and use it to gently stir in the eggs until just combined.

Then, take the filling and evenly distribute among the 12 liners in the muffin pan. Each liner should be filled almost to the top.

process shots showing cheesecake filling being mixed in glass bowl then portioned into muffin pan liked with paper liners

Step 3: Bake

Finally, it’s time to bake. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the mini cheesecakes’ tops appear puffed up and look set. Look closely at the edges. They should be completely set, while the center may still be slightly jiggly when lightly shaken.

When they apppear as described above, remove them from the oven. Allow the cheesecakes to remain in the pan to cool for 1 hour.

After that, carefully remove each one from the pan. Refrigerate in an airtight container for at least 4 hours, or preferably for overnight.

Just prior to serving, top with whipped cream and fresh berries or your favorite fruit preserves.

whipped cream being piped over mini cheesecakes

Tips for Success

Move your oven rack to the third lower position. This is typically one notch below the center of the oven. It’s important to have equipment on the correct settings when baking. Little things, like oven rack placement, can change the overall quality of your baked goods.
Resist the urge to overbake the minis. Cheesecake is done when it looks slightly underdone. You’ll see the edges set, while the centers appear jiggly. As it cools, the cheesecake will continue to set.
Bring cold ingredients to room temperature. Give them at least an hour to sit out before you plan to start the recipe. Doing this helps develop the smooth texture you expect from cheesecake. Cold cream cheese will not blend as well.
Slice your cream cheese brick into individual cubes when bringing to room temperature. This technique assists in bringing the cream cheese to the correct temperature for making the recipe.

close up of mini cheesecake topped with cherry topping

Storing & Freezing

To store: When you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container. They may be stored for up to 4 days in your refrigerator.

To Freeze: Place them in an airtight container and store in your freezer for up to 3 months. These mini cheesecakes are a perfect make-ahead dessert.

When you are ready to use them, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. You can even thaw them in small groups or one at a time.

After giving this recipe a try, you may also want to try my absolute favorite sopapilla cheesecake! It’s perfect for potlucks or gatherings.